Emergency elevator circuit



Jan. 17, 1961 H. R. ROBERTSON 2,968,364

EMERGENCY ELEVATOR CIRCUIT Filed Jan. 29, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 .BY l ,f1/12 dam T Jan. 17, 1961 H. R. ROBERTSON EMERGENCY ELEVATOR CIRCUIT Filed Jan. 29, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ewa/uam Jan. 17, 1961 H. R. RoBERTsoN 2,968,364

EMERGENCY ELEVATOR CIRCUIT NUM T United States Patent EMERGENCY ELEVATOR CIRCUIT Harry R. Robertson, 2022 N. Bronson, LosAngeles, Calif.

Filed Jan. 29, 1960, Ser. No. 5,510

6 Claims. (Cl. IS7- 29) This invention relates to an emergency elevator control circuit. adapted for installations having multiple elevators and an emergency power supply having sufficient capacity to operate only one elevator, for example.

The purpose of the circuit is to provide for the contingency of having a failure of the normal power supply or to have it go off and to turn the system over to the emergency power supply. A more particular object of the invention is to apply the emergency power supply to the elevators in sequence after the normal power supply goes off so as to position them at a desired point such as the usual .parking floor with the exception of the last one in sequence. In this sequence, the emergency power is left on the last elevator so that it operates normally in response to the emergency power.

The emergency power may be brought on by any known or conventional means not forming a part of this invention. By this invention, when the regularpower supply fails or goes off, all elevators are isolated and then the invention takes over and the elevators are connected to the emergency supply in sequence as described.

The invention therefore accomplishes the .objective that in the event of failure of the normal power supply, the elevators are returned to a predetermined parking floor in sequence; the emergency power is cut off from them when they are so returned and the last elevator is kept in operation under the emergency power. The result is that in the event of normal power failure, `there is no panic or confusion by reason of elevators being inoperative with occupants in them or stopping between oors or .the like. The emergency is handled in an efficient, systematic, methodical an'd orderly way with one elevator Vat least left in full operation as described. This operation may be either under automatic control or semi-manual control depending on whatever the conventional system calls for.

As can be seen therefore, the system effects maximum utilization of the emergency power supply available and the emergency is handled quickly and with dispatch returning all the elevators but one to the parking oor and disconnecting them from any power source, this being done with a minimum of time delay.

The advantages of the invention over existing systems will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. In typical known prior art systems upon the outage or failure of the regular electrical power service and 'the establishment of an auxiliary source of supply, normally one elevator only is connected to the emergency supply `and the car operates under the existing type of operation. This may be automatic, semi-automatic or manual. Transfer of any of the other elevators to this emergency 'supply is accomplished by manual operation of a rotary multipole remote control switch. These elevators when operating on emergency power will also operate on the existing ktype of operation. The operation of this rotary switch 'requires that someone Yproceed to its location and nor-v lmally `vthis 'operation requires experienced elevator lper- The circuit of this invention is particularlyy rfice sonnel. Normally a time interval of l2 to l5 seconds is required to transfer from normal to emergency power supply during which time neither power nor lighting is available for elevator service. Y

Civil code requirements usually are that upon the outage of power in the elevator system, the immediate stopping of all elevators is mandatory. This normally results in the elevator cars being stopped between doors, with the passengers being trapped in the cars.

When one car is permanently connected to the emergency supply, this car may or may not be safely brought to a parking floor without the assistance of experienced elevator personnel due to the panic among passengers caused by the 15-second black-out of both power and lighting. The use of the manually operated rotary switch to transfer the emergency power to the several elevators, as stated, requires experienced elevator personnel and usually results in considerable delay and confusion in directing the release of the passengers from the cars.

From the foregoing the advantages of the herein invention will readily be appreciated. The existing car operation is automatically superseded by a preset program of emergency operation, wherein any or all of the existing elevator operating features may be automatically utilized. When normal electrical service is re-established, the elevators are automatically restored to normal service. Upon the establishment of an emergency source of supply, the normal time required to bring each individual car to a dispatching iloor will be l5 seconds. With emergency power adequate for one car only, any number of elevators may be included in the operation. The emergency operation is entirely automatic, no physical operation by passengers or elevator personnel being required.

The primary object of the invention as stated is Vto provide a simplified, eiiective and efficient emergency control system adapted for taking over control of multiple elevators in the event of failure of a normal power supply.

More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide an emergency elevator control system as in the forego-ing which in the event of failure of normal power supply will automatically return all elevators but one to a designated parking door, cut o the power to them and will maintain one elevator in service in response vto an emergency power supply.

A further object of the invention is to provide simpliltied, dependable and efective control circuits for implementing the control concept of the invention and eifectuating its purposes.

Further objects and numerous advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and annexed drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a circuit diagram illustrating a part of the circuitry whereby emergency power is applied to the elevators;

Fig. 1A is a circuit diagram showing part of the control circuitry for each elevator.

Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram of a part of the circuitry illustrating the manner of restoring the normal power supply at the expiration of the emergency;

Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram illustrating the relay circuitry for supplying and cutting off the emergency power supplyand the normal power supply.

Referring no-w more in detail to Fig. l of the drawings,

- this shows the electrical circuitry of a preferred fonn of the invention for shifting control of the elevators to the emergency power supply. Fig. l shows an arrangement for three elevators which of course could be multiplied to a greater number of elevators. An A.C. source of power supply is shown at itl connected to rectifier il which supplies DC. power for the system.

Relay 12 shown in full lines in Fig. 3 is a relay which 'maybe of ya kconventional type responsive to the normal power supply and connected to operate upon failure of that supply as shown in Fig. 3. Contact 12-1 closes upon failure of the normal power supply and it energizes a stepping relay 13 through normally closed relay conascs 15A-1, ISB-1 and 15C-1 of relays 15A, 15B and t Stepping relay 13 will now operate and it will move its arm 17 from the home position to the first contact number 1. This will energize relay 15A which will open its contact 15A-1 de-energizing the stepping relay and closing contact 15A-4 which will energize relay 19A. Relay 19A has contacts 19A-1, 2 and 3 which will now close and will supply emergency energy to the number 1 elevator as may be seen in Fig. 3 through the three wire line to the emergency supply as designed.

Prior to the time that the emergency power is supplied to the number 1 elevator, the switches controlling the normal power supply therefor will be opened. When contact 12-1 closes, it will energize relays 21A, B and C as seen in Fig. l which relays will be mechanically latched in. These relays are of a type embodying a mechanical latch so that once energized, they will stay in until reset in a manner which will be described presently. These relays remain in that position until they are reset in sequence after the re-establishment of the normal power supply. These relays have normally closed contacts as designated by the additional numerals 1, 2 and 3, respectively, as seen in Fig. 3 which no-w open so that all normal circuits from the normal power supply are open.

Closing of relay contact 15A-4 establishes the direction of travel for elevator number 1 by way of relay 19A and its contacts 19A-1, 2 and 3, as seen in Fig. 3.

This elevator proceeds to its parking oor and in doing so, it will by-pass corridor calls proceeding directly to the parking floor. When it reaches its parking Hoor, it will close a contact 25A-1 of relay 25A which will energize relay 27A. Contact 25A*1 may be closed either by a relay or mechanically by the elevator as indicated diagrammatically by the designation 25A on Fig. l. Contact 29A-1 is a contact on relay 29A which operates so as to close the contact as a result of the car stopping at the parking licor. Contact 30A-1 is on a relay 30A which is de-energized when the elevator car doors are fully opened, the contact closing at this time. Energiza tion of relay 27A closes contact 27A-1. At the time of closing contact 27A-1, all of the contacts in the circuit to the latch relay 32A are closed so that it is energized. It will open its contact 32A-1 de-energizing relay 15A. Relay 15A will open its contact 15A-4 de-energizing relay 19A which will in turn remove emergency power from elevator number l by opening its contacts 19A-1, 19A-2 and 19A-3 in Fig. 3.

Elevator number 1 will now remain parked with its doors open until normal power supply is restored which will take place after a sequenced starting procedure which will be described presently.

When relay 15A is de-energized, it will re-close contact 15A-1 energizing the stepping relay 13 again which will move its contact arm to position number 2. In this position, it will energize relay 15B. Energization of this relay will produce operation for elevator number 2 just as has been explained in the foregoing for elevator number 1. The control components and circuitry are alike for this elevator and are designated by corresponding reference characters. The sequence of operation therefore, need not be repeated.

When relay 15B is de-energized, it will again energize the stepping relay 13 which will in turn move its contact arm 17 to position number 3 which will energize relay 15C. This in turn will supply emergency energy to elevator number 3. Elevator number 3 does not have a shut-down circuit so it will remain in regular service as supplied from the emergency source until normal supply 4 is restored. The circuits illustrated are for three elo vators.

It is of course to be understood that it may be applied to any number of elevators using the same sequence and the last elevator remaining in service until the normal supply is restored.

The herein invention is applicable to elevator systems wherein the normal operation is manual, semi-automatic or full automatic. In a manual system an operator or attendant is present in each elevator car, who controls the operation by a push button. For this type of system there is provided in each elevator car a signal device of any suitable type designated on Figure l by the items SA, S-B and S-C. Each of the relays 15a, 15b and 15e has a contact 15a-5, 15b-5 and 15e-5, respectively, so that when these relays are energized, these respective contacts are energized to energize the signal device in its respective elevator car. This advises the operator or attendant that the normal power supply has failed and that the emergency power is on and that he should manually return the carto the parking Hoor.

Fig. 1A illustrates circuitry adapted in systems set up for either semi-automatic or automatic operation. This ligure refers to a part of the automatic operational control circuitry for each elevator. In the control circuitry of each elevator there is a relay marked by the legend attendant relay, which when energized normally sets up the system for operation under the supervision o-f an attendant who operates the elevator by a push button. The attendant relays normally may be energized to set the system up for this type of operation by closing the manual switches 33A, B and C.

The relay 12 has contacts 12A, 12B and 12C in those circuits respectively, which contacts are automatically opened when normal power supply fails. This fle-energizes the attendant relays so that these elevators immed1- ately go on full automatic and thus respond automatically to the circuitry of this invention.

Restoration of normal power supply The circuitry for restoring the normal power supply is shown primarily in the schematic diagram of Fig. 2. When the normal power supply is again available, relay 12 will again operate and it will close contact 12-2 shown in Fig. 2. This will bring about resetting of the stepping relay 13 to its home position as will be described and it will elect resetting to normal of the latch relays 32A and 32B.

At the time contact 12-2 closes, stepping relay 13 will be returned to home position. This circuit will be through its contact 13-1 on Fig. 2 which will energize relay 44. This will close contact 44-1 which will energize the reset coil 46 for the stepping switch 13 which will return it to home position. Reset windings 47A and 47B for the latch relays 32A and 32B will also be energized returning these relays to normal.

Referring to Fig. 2, contact 37-1 of relay 37 and contact 21C-4 of relay 21C will be closed at this time and relay 37 will be energized. This will close contact 37-2 energizing the stepping relay 39 which will move its contact arm 40 from home position to number 1 position. Contact 37-1 of relay 37 is a normally closed contact having a time delay in closing. Contact 37-2 is a normally open contact having a time delay in opening. Movement of arm 40 to the number 1 position will energize the reset coil of relay 21C which coil is shown in Fig. 2 which will return this relay to normal reclosing contacts 21C-1, 2 and 3 shown in Fig. 3. Elevator number 3 is thus returned to normal service. Contact 21C-4 will now open.

Relay 37 is a type in which contact 37-1 will again close after a predetermined adjustable time period. Relay 37 will now be energized through contact 21B-4, 21C-4 now have opened. Stepping relay 39 will again beenergized and it will move to its number 2 position energizing the coil of reset relay 21B. This will resto-re normal supply to elevator number 2 which will allow elevator number 2 to resume normal service. This results from the closing of the contacts 21B-1, 2 and 3 in Fig. 3. Contact 21B-4 will now open.

The above sequence will be repeated for elevator number 3 on schedule when time relay T again closes its contact 37-1.

After all elevators are restored to normal service, the contact 39-1 of stepping relay 39 and the contacts of the reset relays, 21A-5, 21B-5 and 21C-5 will be closed energizing the reset winding 42 of the stepping relay 39 causing it to return to its home position which will restore the circuits to the static state. Contact 39-1 is open only when arm 40 is in home position.

If desired, an optional manual method may be utilized for restoring the elevators to normal service after an emergency supply. That is, instead of the restoration sequence being brought about automatically by stepping switch 39, the manual switches or buttons 50, 51 and 52 may be utilized. As may be seen in Fig. 2, the switches are in the respective circuits of the reset coils of relays 21A, B and C. As may be seen therefore that by energizing the coils of these reset relays, the same sequence may be obtained manually as results from operation of the stepping switch 39 and its arm 40.

From the foregoing, those skilled in the art will observe that the invention provides an automatic sequencing system operative in response to failure or the going otf of normal power supp-ly for the elevators. In such event, the elevators are furnished emergency power in sequence so that they are systematically and methodically returned to their parking floor without any relay, disturbance, or confusion which might result in apprehension or panic on the part of occupants of the elevators. As the elevators are thus returned to their parking floor, the emergency power is kept on the last one in the sequence so that it operates normally, being supplied with the emergency power until such time as normal power supply is restored. The system achieves maximum utilization of the power and equipment available and meets the emergency with the maximum of dispatch and precision.

While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom with the scope of the invention which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be alforded the full scope ofthe claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a control system for a plurality of elevators having a normal power supply, in combination, an emergency power supply, means responsive to failure of the normal power supply for connecting the elevators to the emergency power supply, sequencing contro-l means for connecting the elevators individually in order, to the emergency power supply for returning each elevator to a predetermined parking position and disconnecting each elevator from the emergency power supply after having been returned to that position, and means embodied in said sequencing means for maintaining the emergency power on the last elevator in the sequence to maintain it in service until restoration of the normal power supply.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including means respon- 4sive to the restoration of normal power for disconnecting the emergency power supply from the one elevator and in sequential order restoring the normal power supply to all the elevators.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sequencing control means includes a stepping relay arranged to be initially energized upon the failure of the normal supply and having contacts arranged to sequentially initiate the operation of individual elevators to be returned to a predetermined parking place in response to power from the emergency supply.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 including means responsive to restoration of normal power supply for cutting off the emergency power supply from the said one elevator and sequentially restoring the normal power supply to the elevators in order.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the elevators are of a type having circuitry adapted for semi-automatic or automatic individual control and means for transferring the control between automatic and semi-automatic; and rneans whereby said transfer means is controlled by the means responsive to failure of the normal power supply to set up the circuitry of each elevator for full automatic operation.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the elevators are lof a type having manually controlled circuitry, and signal means in each elevator responsive to the feeding of emergency power thereto for advising the attendant to operate the elevator to the parking floor.

No references cited. 

